Ottoman Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an ottoman device with a structure in which a link device including a leg support and a link frame to which the leg support is attached and an electric driving device for driving the link device are modulated on a fixing frame as a base connected to a vehicle body beneath a rear seat. As a result, the ottoman device of the present invention can be simply attached to and detached from the vehicle body, can be applied to a vehicle having no center console on the rear seat, and can increase strength with a both-side supporting structure of the leg support, differently from a conventional one arm type leg support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0040246 filed Apr. 30, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ottoman device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ottoman device with a structure in which a link device including a leg support and a link frame to which the leg support is attached and an electric driving device for driving the link device are modulated on a fixing frame as a base connected to a vehicle body beneath a rear seat. As a result, the ottoman device of the present invention can be simply attached to and detached from the vehicle body, can be applied to a vehicle having no center console on the rear seat, and can increase strength with a both-side supporting structure of the leg support, differently from a conventional one arm type leg support.

(b) Background Art

Generally, an ottoman device is provided on a seat to support legs of a user. The ottoman device can be folded to and unfolded from the seat and adjusted to various angles that the user desires.

Most brand-new prestige vehicles are equipped with ottoman devices with various structures to provide a comfortable choice for seating to a user sitting on a rear seat. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a conventional ottoman device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a leg support 2 which is rotated to adjust an angle is provided at the bottom of a rear seat 1 with a one arm structure in which a rotating bar 3 of one end thereof is connected to a driving device 5 positioned in the inside of a console 4.

In particular, the driving device 5 including a drive motor (not shown) for operating the leg support 2 and adjusting the angle of the leg support 2 is provided in the inside of the console 4, and the rotating bar 3 assembled on one end of the leg support 2 is connected to the driving device 5 so as to be rotated with respect to a hinge point of the rear end. As a result, as the drive motor of the driving device 5 is operated, the leg support 2 is rotated with respect to the hinge point of the rotating bar, and thus the angle of the leg support 2 is adjusted.

However, the above-described conventional ottoman device has the following drawbacks.

(1) Deterioration of Workability

Since the seat is assembled after the leg support, the driving device, and the console are sequentially assembled, the seat may be caught during assembly.

(2) Weak Strength

Since a driving mechanism is disposed in the console and the leg support itself has the one arm structure, it is necessary to strength the frame to support the legs of the user, which results in an increase in weight and cost.

(3) The leg support is applicable only in the event that a center console is provided on the rear seat, and thus it is impossible to apply the leg support to a three-passenger rear seat having no console.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems associated with prior art. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provides an ottoman device with a structure in which a link device including a leg support and a link frame to which the leg support is attached and an electric driving device for driving the link device are modulated on a fixing frame as a base connected to a vehicle body beneath a rear seat. As a result, the ottoman device of the present invention can be simply attached to and detached from the vehicle body, can be applied to a vehicle having no center console on the rear seat, and can increase strength with a both-side supporting structure of the leg support, differently from a conventional one arm type leg support.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention, provides an ottoman device that may comprise: a fixing frame positioned beneath a seat; a leg support folded to and unfolded from a bottom of the seat with respect to the fixing frame with an adjustable angle; an electric driving device mounted on the fixing frame and providing a rotational force; and a link device including a link frame, to which the leg support is integrally attached onto, and a plurality of links pivotally coupling the line frame and the fixing frame, wherein at least one of the plurality of links is coupled to the electric driving device and rotated by the rotational force of the electric driving device to operate the link frame and the leg support.

The electric driving device may comprise a drive motor fixedly mounted on the fixing frame; a gear box assembled to the drive motor and transmitting a rotational force of the drive motor; a drive shaft provided co-axially on both lateral sides of an output portion of the gear box and rotated by receiving the rotational force of the drive motor through the gear box; and a gear device provided at both ends of the drive shaft and operating the link frame and the at least one of the plurality of links as the drive shaft rotates.

The gear device may comprise: a drive gear integrally assembled to both ends of the drive shaft; and a driven gear engaged with the drive gear and connected the at least one of the plurality of links to operate the link device by the rotation of the drive gear. The drive gear and the driven gear may be rotatably supported by a gear bracket mounted on a front surface of the fixing frame.

One end of the at least one of the plurality of links may be coupled to the gear device and the other end thereof is coupled to a lower side of the link frame, and wherein the other ones of the plurality of links couple the fixing frame and upper side of the link frame.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the link device may further comprise: a first link coupling the gear devices formed at both ends of the drive shaft and the link frame; and a second link coupling the link frame and the fixing frame, wherein the first link is rotated by the gear device to operate the link frame and, at the same time, the second link on the fixing frame holds both sides of the link frame and rotates.

The gear device may comprise: a drive gear integrally assembled to both ends of the drive shaft; and a driven gear engaged with the drive gear and connected to the first link to operate the link device by the rotation of the drive gear. The drive gear and the driven gear may be rotatably supported by a gear bracket mounted on a front surface of the fixing frame.

One end of the first link may be coupled to the gear device and the other end thereof is coupled to a lower side of the link frame, and wherein one end of the second link is coupled to the fixing frame and the other end thereof is coupled to an upper side of the link frame.

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like.

The above and other features of the invention are discussed infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof illustrated the accompanying drawings which are given hereinbelow by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing an example of a conventional ottoman device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ottoman device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state after the ottoman device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is operated;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a supporting frame is mounted on the front surface of a link frame in the ottoman device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example in which a supporting plate, a pad, and a cover are sequentially assembled to the supporting frame of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams showing operational states of the ottoman device in accordance with the present invention.

Reference numerals set forth in the Drawings includes reference to the following elements as further discussed below:

 12: fixing frame 20: electric driving device  21: drive motor 22: gear box  23: drive shaft 24: gear device  25: drive gear 26: driven gear  30: link device 31: link frame 32, 33: first link 34, 35: second link 100: leg support

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an ottoman device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state after the ottoman device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is operated.

Moreover, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a supporting frame is mounted on the front surface of a link frame in the ottoman device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventions FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example in which a supporting plate, a pad, and a cover are sequentially assembled to the supporting frame of FIG. 5, and FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams showing operational states of the ottoman device in accordance with the present invention.

The preferred embodiment shown in the figures is an ottoman device applicable to a rear seat of a vehicle, in which a line device is used.

First, the configuration of the ottoman device of the present invention will be described.

A fixing frame 12 is fixedly mounted on a vehicle body 10 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 beneath a seat 1 shown in FIG. 7 (beneath a seat frame) by means of a frame bracket 11 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. A drive motor 21 supported by a motor bracket 13 is provided in the middle of the front surface of the fixing frame 12.

The leg support in accordance with the present invention moves up and down to be folded to and unfolded from the bottom of the seat 1. The angle of the leg support is regulated by an electric driving device 20 including the drive motor 21.

The driving device 20 for moving up and down the leg support and for adjusting the angle thereof includes: the drive motor 21; a gear box 22 assembled to the drive motor 21 and transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor 21; a drive shaft 23 provided horizontally on both left and right sides of an output portion of the gear box 22 and rotated by receiving the rotational force of the drive motor 21 through the gear box 22; and a gear device 24 provided at both ends of the drive shaft 23 and receiving the rotational force of a link device 30 as the drive shaft 23 rotates.

In more detail, the gear box 22 for changing the rotational direction of the drive motor 21 is assembled to a rotational shaft of the drive motor 21. Although the internal configuration of the gear box 22 is not shown in detail, the gear box 22 is composed of a plurality of gears. That is, the gear box 22 may include an input gear integrally formed with the rotational shaft of the drive motor 21 and rotated during driving of the motor, an intermediate gear for transmitting the rotational force of the input gear, and an output gear 22a for rotating the drive shaft 23 by receiving the rotational force from the intermediate gear.

In this case, the intermediate gear rotates the output gear 22 a and the drive shaft 23 integrally formed with the output gear 22 a in a direction required in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention by transmitting the rotational force of the input gear integrated rotated with the rotational shaft of the drive motor 21 thereto. In order to operate the leg support of the present invention, the intermediate gear changes the rotational direction of the rotational shaft of the drive motor 21 provided vertically as shown in figures and transmits the rotational force to the output gear 22 a, thus rotating the output gear 22 a and the horizontally disposed drive shaft 23.

The intermediate gear may be composed of a single or a plurality of gears. The intermediate gear disposed between the input gear and the output gear 22 a transmits the rotational force of the drive motor 21 to rotate the horizontally disposed drive shaft 23.

The gear box 22 may be mounted on the fixing frame 12 using an external housing thereof by a separate bracket, if necessary, in the same manner as the drive motor 21.

As shown in the figures, in the combined assembly of the output gear 22 a and the drive shaft 23, the output gear 22 a is disposed in the middle of the drive shaft 23, and the drive shaft 23 horizontally extends from the output gear 22 a to both sides thereof. As a result, the drive shaft 23 is forwardly or reversely rotated by forward or reverse rotation of the drive motor 21, and thus the link device 30 is operated to move up or down the leg support 100 shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C and adjust the angle thereof.

The gear device 24 interposed between the drive shaft 23 and the link device 30 may be composed of a plurality of gears. In the preferred embodiment, the gear device 24 includes a drive gear 25 assembled to an end of the drive shaft 23 and integrally rotated with the drive shaft 23, and a driven gear 26 engaged with the drive gear 25 and connected to the link device 30 (particularly, to a first link) to operate the link device 30 by the rotation of the drive gear 25.

The drive gear 25 and the driven gear 26 are rotatably mounted on a gear bracket 14 fixedly mounted on the front surface of the fixing frame 12, respectively. As shown in the figures, the gear device 24 composed of the drive gear 25 and the driven gear 26 is provided on both left and right sides of the drive shaft 23, respectively.

Meanwhile, in each of the gear devices 24, one end of each of first links 32 and 33 is integrally connected to a shaft of the driven gear 26, and the other end thereof is rotatably hinge-connected to a lower side of a link frame 31 to which the leg support 100 is integrally attached.

Moreover, one end of each of second links 34 and 35 is rotatably hinge-connected to the fixing frame 12 by means of a link bracket 15, and the other end thereof is rotatably hinge-connected to an upper side of the link frame 31.

As a result, the first links 32 and 33, the link frame 31, and the second links 34 and 35 constitute the link devices 30 at both ends of the drive shaft 23. When the first links 32 and 33 supporting the link frame 31 are rotated by receiving the rotational force of the drive motor 21, the second links 34 and 35 rotatably connected to the fixing frame 12 are rotated together with the link frame 31 held by the second links 34 and 35, and thus the link frame 31 is moved up and down.

The rotation amount of the first links 32 and 33 and the moving amount of the link frame 31 according to the rotation of the drive shaft 23 are determined by a gear ratio between the drive gear 25 and the driven gear 26.

As shown in FIG. 5, a supporting frame 111 is mounted on the front surface of the link frame 31. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, a supporting plate 112 as a plastic molded product, a pad 113 as a cushion member, and a cover 114 as a finishing material are sequentially stacked on the front surface of the link frame 31 and the supporting frame 111, thus forming the leg support 100.

Like this, as the leg support 100 is installed on the link frame 31, the leg support 100, positioned in front of the fixing frame 12 beneath the seat and supported by the link 30 device 30, is moved up and down.

Next, the operation of the electric leg support in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIGS. 7A to 7C.

The leg support 100 assembled to the ottoman device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention by the link device 30 is moved up and down by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 21 and, especially, the amount of moving up and down of the leg support 100 is determined by the amount of the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 21 and, thus the angle of the leg support 100 is adjusted.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the drive motor 21 may be controlled by an electrical control signal of a controller. In a case where a user operates an operation unit connected to the controller, the controller recognizes an operation signal of the operation unit and drives the drive motor 21 and, as a result, the leg support 100 may be operated and adjusted to an angle by the operation of the drive motor 21 according to the operation of the user.

Otherwise, the ottoman device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be interlocked with the operation of the seat. In a case where the user operates the seat, the controller receives a signal according to the seat operation and drives the drive motor 21 and, as a result, the leg support 100 may be operated and adjusted to an angle by the operation of the drive motor 21 in connection with the seat operation by the user.

FIG. 7A shows a state before the leg support 100 is operated, in which the leg support 100 is being moved down.

After this, when the rotational force of the drive motor 21 is transmitted to the drive shaft 23 through the gear box 22, the drive shaft 23 is rotated, and thus the drive gear 25 and the driven gear 26 are rotated. Then, the first links 32 and 33 of the link device 30 are rotated upward with respect to the rear end thereof connected to the driven gear 26.

Accordingly, the link frame 31 connected to the front ends of the first links 32 and 33 is integrally moved up and, at this time, the second links 34 and 35, in which the rear ends are connected to the fixing frame 12 by means of the link bracket 15, are also rotated up ward with respect to the rear ends together with the link frame 31 connected to the front ends of the second links 34 and 35.

FIG. 7B shows a state in which the leg support 100 is being operated, and FIG. 7C shows a state after the leg support 100 is operated. In a state where the first and second links are all rotated upward, the link frame 31 is moved up by the first links 32 and 33 and, at the same time, the second links 34 and 35 holding the link frame 31 are rotated. As a result, the whole leg support 100 including the link frame 31 standing vertically as shown in FIG. 7A is gradually unfolded and moved up as shown in FIG. 7B and then unfolded substantially in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 7C, thus supporting the legs of the user.

Of course, as described above, the rotation amount of the drive motor 21 is controlled by the operation unit and the controller (in case of the seat interlocking type, the operation unit may not be provided), and thus the rotation amounts of the gears and the links are controlled, respectively. As a result, the leg support 100 is moved up and down step by step as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C and, at the same time, the angle thereof is adjusted.

As described above, according to the ottoman device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the structure, in which the link device including the leg support and the link frame to which the leg support is attached and the electric driving device for driving the link device are modulated on the fixing frame as a base connected to the vehicle body beneath the rear seat, can be simply attached to and detached from the vehicle body and applied to various kinds of seats.

Especially, since the devices for driving the leg support of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are detachably provided beneath the seat, the workability is improved and the leg support of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a vehicle having no center console on the rear seat, differently from the conventional device mounted in the console.

Moreover, with the both-side supporting structure of the leg support, it is possible to satisfy the required strength and provide a stable support without any reinforcing frame, differently from the conventional one arm type leg support.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An ottoman device comprising: a fixing frame positioned beneath a seat; a leg support folded to and unfolded from a bottom of the seat with respect to the fixing frame with an adjustable angle; an electric driving device mounted on the fixing frame and providing a rotational force; and a link device including a link frame, to which the leg support is integrally attached onto, and a plurality of links pivotally coupling the line frame and the fixing frame, wherein at least one of the plurality of links is coupled to the electric driving device and rotated by the rotational force of the electric driving device to operate the link frame and the leg support.
 2. The ottoman device of claim 1, wherein the electric driving device comprises: a drive motor fixedly mounted on the fixing frame; a gear box assembled to the drive motor and transmitting a rotational force of the drive motor; a drive shaft provided co-axially on both lateral sides of an output portion of the gear box and rotated by receiving the rotational force of the drive motor through the gear box; and a gear device provided at both ends of the drive shaft and operating the link frame and the at least one of the plurality of links as the drive shaft rotates.
 3. The ottoman device of claim 2, wherein the gear device comprises: a drive gear integrally assembled to both ends of the drive shaft; and a driven gear engaged with the drive gear and connected the at least one of the plurality of links to operate the link device by the rotation of the drive gear.
 4. The ottoman device of claim 3, wherein the drive gear and the driven gear are rotatably supported by a gear bracket mounted on a front surface of the fixing frame.
 5. The ottoman device of claim 3, wherein one end of the at least one of the plurality of links is coupled to the gear device and the other end thereof is coupled to a lower side of the link frame, and wherein the other ones of the plurality of links couple the fixing frame and upper side of the link frame.
 6. The ottoman device of claim 2, wherein the link device further comprises: a first link coupling the gear devices formed at both ends of the drive shaft and the link frame; and a second link coupling the link frame and the fixing frame, wherein the first link is rotated by the gear device to operate the link frame and, at the same time, the second link on the fixing frame holds both sides of the link frame and rotates.
 7. The ottoman device of claim 6, wherein the gear device comprises: a drive gear integrally assembled to both ends of the drive shaft; and a driven gear engaged with the drive gear and connected to the first link to operate the link device by the rotation of the drive gear.
 8. The ottoman device of claim 7, wherein the drive gear and the driven gear are rotatably supported by a gear bracket mounted on a front surface of the fixing frame.
 9. The ottoman device of claim 6, wherein one end of the first link is coupled to the gear device and the other end thereof is coupled to a lower side of the link frame, and wherein one end of the second link is coupled to the fixing frame and the other end thereof is coupled to an upper side of the link frame. 